Helen Audrey Williams didn’t just win two individual championships in her state meet debut, she re-wrote the state record book in the process.

The Atlanta International freshman capped off an impressive first high school track and field season with a remarkable performance at the girls’ state meet in Albany May 1 through 3 – winning both the 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs and setting new state meet records in both events.

Williams eclipsed a 22-year old record when she won the 1,600 with a time of 5 minutes, 00.47 seconds to surpass the old mark of 5:02.05 set by Pace’s Kelly Cook in 1992.

She also took the 3,200 in 10:40.98 – breaking the previous record of 10:50.34 that was established by Landmark’s Lindy Long a year ago.

Williams also won the 1,600 (5:05.40) and the 3,200 (10:49.82) at the Area 3A meet at Landmark Christian in Fairburn in April and set a new meet record in the 1,600 (5:16.14) at the Chick-Fil-A meet at Eagle’s Landing Christian in McDonough March 1.

She first made her mark in cross country last fall, finishing third in the Class A private school race (19:15.03) at the state meet in Carrollton Nov. 9 and placing runner-up (18:09.06) in the Region 5A meet at Our Lady of Mercy Oct. 31.

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